Writing-machine.



PatenIed Aug. 27, I90l. E. B. HESS.

WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 2, 1901.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: g5

:21 a. is

irnn STATES ATENT lrricn.

EDXVARD l3. HESS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MECHANICAL IMPROVEMENTS COMPANY, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

WRITING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 681,638, dated August 27, 1901.

Original application filed April 26, 1901, Serial No. 57,588. Divided and this application filed August 21 1901. Serial No. 70,640. (No model.)

T all 1117107121 it y concern: shownit extends dowuwardlyandrearwardly. Be it known that I, EDWARD B. HEss, a citi- A spring is applied thereto to return the zen of the United States, residing in the bortype-bar to and normally maintain it in its ough of Brooklyn, city of New York, State of retracted position. The type-bars may be 5 New York, have invented certain new and actuated in any appropriate way from any useful Improvementsin Writing-Machines,of suitable keyboard. which the following is a specification. The type-bar carrier2 is shown as the rear This invention relates to mechanism for cross-barofarocking frame whoseside pieces changing the relation of type-bars to the are marked 16 and of which the back-stop IO printing-point to print at will either upper or frame 5 is an intermediate cross-bar and the lower case and is applicable either to a shiftbar or shaft 17 the front cross-bar, adapted to ing type-bar support or a shifting platen. rock in bearings in the side plates of the The invention also relates to a shifting frame. The rear end of the frame is suptype-bar guide which is so moved that its reported in the normal position by a projection I 5 lation to any one of the type-bars is main- 19, extending rearwardly from the type-bar tained at the time of taking any impression. support 2 and resting upon a cushion-block In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is or buffer20, seated in the end of a screw-bolt a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 a 21, that is vertically adjustable in a threaded detail perspective view. socket in a projection 22, extending from the 20 The type-bars lare respectively pivoted in back of the frame of the machine. When a support 2, which is segmental in shape and the rocking frame is shifted vertically, it has projecting toward the keyboard a series rocks upon the axis 17. The power of the of teeth 3, between which the type-bars are shifting device is preferably applied at or mounted, and the entire series of type-bars near the rear end of the rocking frame. This 25 may be pivoted upon a single curved pivotgeneral arrangement is a feature of the inrod 4, passing through apertures in the teeth vention. The long frame having its axis of 3 and through the bearing-apertures in the motion near the front of the machine and the type-bars. In the particular construction application of power to liftit at ornearits rear shown, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 2, end enables the shift to be made with a mini- 0 the support 2 is so placed that its center line mum exertion of power, while the movement or axis, assuming it to be a segment ofa true is smooth and accurate and is characterized circle, is horizontal. The type-bars normally by an absence of shock or vibration. A horiextend toward the front ofthe machine in zontal plane passing through the axis 17 is substantially horizontal positions and rest at midway, or substantially so, between hori- 5 their ends upon a segmental support 5, havzon tal planes bounding, respectively, the lowing a yielding or bufier facing 6 and an upest point of the curve in which the type-bars right flange 7 at the side toward the pivots are pivoted and its upper ends, and therefore 7 of the type-bars, which is slotted to receive the arc in which the type-bar support moves 0 the several bars as they return to normal poupwardly produces a minimum variation in 40 sition. The platen 8 is shown as mounted the relation of the type-bars to the printingsubstantially over the segmental support 2, point, and since the radius of motion may be but might of course be somewhat otherwise relatively long the variation is one that is not disposed, and preferably the center of the noticeable either in operating the machine or 5 printing-point is slightly above the horizonthe printing done by it. The frame may of 5 tal plane in which the axis of the platen lies course be shifted in a variety of Ways. Many and which is indicated by the dotted line a: no such will occur to the skilled mechanician. in Fig. 1 to reduce or avoid foreshortening of One that is deemed to have special advanthe printed character as viewed by the opertages is as follows: At the left side of the matoo ator, the point of view being considerably chine, near the front, is pivoted a bell-crank 50 above the plane of the platen. Each typelever 23, one arm of which is substantially bar has a projection or extension 9 beyond horizontal and projects toward the front of its pivot, and in the special construction the machine, being normally held up by a suitable spring 24. The stem of the shift- .depressed, the rod 26 is moved endwise, as

shown by the arrow, Fig. 2. During the first part of the movement of the bar the crank 27 is not actuated; but when the wrist-pin of the crank comes against the rear wall of the slot the shaft is rocked, the cam 30 turned upwardly, and the frame carrying the type' bar support elevated. The movement is graduated and uniform and without shock or ar.

In machines of this character it is desirable to employ a guide located adjacent the printing-point on the platen to receive the type-bars and so direct them as to bring the characters thereon accurately to the printing-point. Such a guide 32 is shown in the drawings. It is, in the construction shown, mounted to slide vertically in a block 33, which may be supported by a bracket 34 or in any other appropriate manner. In the lower end of the guide is a roll 35, resting on a cam 36 on a rock-shaft 37. This shaft is supported by bearing-screws 38, extending through the sides of the frame. On one end of the shaft is a crank 39, (shown in dotted lines in the drawings,) Whose Wrist-pin fits in an aperture in the endwise-movable rod 26. The shaft 37 lies in slots formed in the rear ends of the frame-bars 16 and in the lower ends of the plates 16, attached, respectively, to such frame-bars and above them to the ends of the segmental type-bar support2 and also extends through slots 40 in that support. When the shift-key 25 is depressed, the rod 26 in the first part of its movement through the medium of the crank 39 rocks the shaft 37 and the cam 36 raises the guide to its proper position. Then the crank 27 is actu ated by the rod 26 to elevate the frame carrying the type-bar support. The relation of the guide to the type-bars is,.therefore, the same in either position of the type-bar support, and the work of the two operations described is apportioned to different stages in the depression of the shift-key, thereby causing it to oppose an approximately uniform resistance to depression and reducing such resistance as against what it would be if both of the described operations were performed conjointly during any or all stages of depression of the key. 4

41 is the carriage rack-bar; 42, the pinion engaging it; 43, the wheel-escapement, and 44 the latch or pawl engaging the escapementwheel. This pawl is pivoted at 45, and its free end is pivotally connected to a rod 46, normally urged toward the front of the machine by a spring, as shown, and passing through a slot 47 in the vertically-movable type-bar guide 32. The bar 46 may also be guided and held by a pin 48, working in a slot therein and mounted between ears or projections on the upper part of the bracket 34. All these parts are to be appropriately mounted to perform their proper functions and it is deemed unnecesary to encumber the drawings with detailed illustration. They may be arranged substantially as shown or in any appropriate way. The end of the bar 46 projecting in front of the type-bar guide occupies such a position that a type-bar approaching the printing-point on the platen will strike it and move it rearwardly, thereby actuating the pawl 44 and permitting the escapement-wheel to move one tooth. The parts are so arranged and the movement so timed that an impression from a character on a type bar is completed and the character moved out of contact with the paper before the platen is permitted to move one step to the left, as is well understood.

In this machine the endwise-movable escapement-actuating bar 46 is in effect a universal bar. It is merely illustrated as one form that may be used. Any suitable mechanism, however, for effecting the feed of the carriage in the usual way or in accordance with the usual practice may be adopted in this machine.

51 indicates a space key or bar.-

The spacing may be effected by any suit able mechanism-for instance, a type-bar 1 without a type'carrying head may be mounted in the support 2 and actuated from the space key or bar in the same way the other bars are, or any usual connecting mechanism may be interposed between the space-key and the carriage-feed pawl 44. It is apparent that the rocking-frame construction is applicable to the shifting of the platen where the typebar support is stationary or where both such members shift, machines of both styles indicated being known in the prior art.

Any appropriate construction of carriage and ribbon mechanism may be employed, including the usual or necessaryadjuncts thereto-as, for instance, a ribbon-vibrator. Such matters form no part of this invention, and as there are many forms of mechanism that may be used it is not deemed essential to illustrate these features.

The type-bars may be operated by means of any appropriate devices actuated from finger-pieces with vertically-movable stems, (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) or any'other arrangement may be adopted. The manner of actuating the type-bars and the location of the finger-pieces form no part of this invention.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a platen, a horizontally-disposed rocking frame in a plane below theplaten, pivoted toward the front of the machine and comprisingasegmental type-bar support, a projection extending rearwardly from said frame beyond the type-bar support, a rest upon which it normally lies, a shift-key and devices interposed between the shift-key and said extension to rock the frame upon its support, and type-bars pivotally mounted in the said support and extending normally toward the front of the machine.

2. The combination of a platen, a rocking frame in a plane below the platen carrying or comprising a segmental type-bar support, type-bars pivotally mounted in an are or segmental curve in said support, the pivot of the rocking frame being located in a horizontal plane substantially equidistant from horizontal planes bounding the lowest point of the curve in which the type-bars are pivoted and the upper ends of said curve, and means for rocking the frame for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of a platen, a horizontally-disposed rocking frame comprising or carrying a segmental type-bar support, typebars pivoted therein, a shift-key, a roek-shaft arranged beneath the frame, a cam thereon engaging the frame and operative connections between the shift-key and rock-shaft for the purpose set forth.

4:. The combination of a platen, a horizontally-disposed rocking frame comprising or carrying a segmental type-bar support, typebars pivoted therein, a shift-key, a rock-shaf t arranged beneath the frame, a cam thereon engaging a roller carried on the frame and operative connections between the shift-key and the rock-shaft for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of a platen, a horizontal frame located in a plane below the platen and pivoted toward the front of the machine, a segmental type-bar support carried by and comprising part of such frame, type-bars pivotally mounted in said support, an adjustable buffer or stop upon which the frame normally rests, a shift-key, and means acting on the depression of the shift-key to rock said frame, for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination of a platen, a horizontal frame located in a plane below the platen and pivoted toward the front of the machine, a segmental type-bar support carried by and comprising part of such frame, type-bars pivotallymonnted in said support, an adjustable buffer or stop located in rear of the type-bar support upon which the frame normally rests, a shift-key, and means acting on the depression of the shift-key to rock said frame, for the purpose set forth.

'7. The combination of a platen, a verticallymovable segmental type-bar support mounted below the platen, a vertically-movable typebar guide adjacent to the platen and mounted independently of the type-barsupport, a shift key, operative connections between the shiftkey and the type-bar guide, whereby during the initial depression of the shift-key the typebar guide is raised, and operative connections between the vertically-movable type-barsupport and the shift-key whereby said support is raised during the later stage of movement of depression of the shift-key.

8. The combination of a plat-en, a verticallymovable type-bar support, type-bars pivotally mounted therein, a vertically-movable type-bar guide located adjacent to the platen, a shift-key and operative connections between the shift-key and the type-bar guide, and operative connections between the shiftkey and the type-bar support, whereby the type-bar guide is raised to its elevated position before the depression of the shift-key is completed and the type-barsupport is raised to its elevated position on the completion of the movement of the shift-key.

9. The combination of a platen, a verticallymovable type-bar support, type-bars pivotally mounted therein, a Vertically-movable type-bar guide adjacent to the platen, the shift-key, and means interposed between the type-bar support and guide whereby on the depression of the shift-key one of said parts is raised to its elevated position during the earlier stage of depression of the shift-key and the other said part to its elevated position during the later stage of depression of said key.

10. The combination of a platen, a vertically-movable type-bar support, a verticallymovable type-bar guide, a shift-key, and means actuated by the shift-key to move one of said vertically-movable parts to its elevated position during part of the depression of the shift-key, and the other said part to its elevated position during the remainder of the depression of the shift-key.

11. The combination of a platen, a vertically-movable type-bar support, an independently-mounted vertically-movable type-bar guide, the cam and rock-shaft for elevating the type-bar guide, the cam and rock-shaft for elevating the type-bar support, an end wise-movable rod actuated by the shift-key, the crank connection between it and one of said rock-shafts and the crank-and-slot connection between it and the other said rockshaft, and type-bars pivotally mounted in the type-bar support.

12. The combination of a movable type-bar support, type-bars mounted therein, a movable type-bar guide, a shift key and devices operated by the shift-key to effect a movement of the guide during one part of the excursion of the key and the support during the other part of the excursion of the key.

13. The combination of a movable type-bar support, a type-bar guide adapted to occupy two positions, a single shift-key and means actuated by said key forfirst effecting a move-- ment of one of said parts and then the other,

and type-bars mounted in said support.

lei. In a writing-machine, the combination of a movable type-bar support, type-bars pivoted therein, a sliding type-bar guide, a shiftand devices operated by the shift-key to key,

slide the guide during one part of the excursion of the key and move the support during the other part of the excursion of the key.

15. In a writing-machine, the combination of a platen, a movable type-bar support, a sliding type-bar guide adapted to occupy two positions, a single shift-key, means actuated by said key for first sliding the guide and then moving the support, and type-bars pivoted in said support. 1a

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

EDWARD B. HESS. Witnesses:

EDWARD O. DAVIDSON, L. F. BROWNING. 

